Page 82 of Last of Her Name

“I’m not letting you go.”

“What, soyou’regoing to imprison me? How are you any different than they are?”

He flinches; I know the words aren’t fair, but what about any of this is?

“We’ll be okay,” he says softly. “I swear. We will disappear. We will change our names and faces. There are places they won’t find us, if we’re smart. Stacia, I love you.”

I swallow hard, gripping my oxygen mask at my side.

“We’ll figure this out.” Pol attempts a half smile. “Please?”

“Okay,” I whisper, my heart crumbling.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

The relief on his face is so pure that it nearly breaks me.

I take his hand and step into him, letting him fold his arms around me, tuck his chin atop my head. I lay my ear on his chest and listen to his heart pound; his pulse is racing. His arms tighten around me, warm and safe. Stars, will I ever look at him the same way again, as my overprotective big brother, my best friend’s crush?

Clio is the one who deserves his arms around her and his whispers in her ear.

And knowing that the two of them might find happiness together—that would be enough for me. That could sustain me through whatever comes next.

“It could have been possible,” I whisper into his shoulder. “But it could never beright.”

“What?” His arms slacken a bit.

I step backward, drawing his gun with me. It slides out of his belt and tucks into my palm, my finger curling around the trigger.

Pol goes still. His eyes lock on mine.

“She’s my best friend,” I whisper.

His eyes dart to the gun, then back to me. I walk backward, out of reach, so he can’t grab the weapon. My foot finds the stairs and I slowly ascend, keeping the gun trained on Pol. I don’t want to shoot him, not even with the nonlethal setting. But if he makes a move, I will. I will, because every bone in my body knows this is the only way to save him.

“Goodbye, Pol,” I whisper. I start to lower the gun and turn, enough distance between us now that I can turn my back to him. But still, it’s the hardest step I’ve ever taken in my life.

“Stacia.” His voice is wretched with pain.

I keep walking, my back rigid.

“Stacia!”

My heart tumbles, pleading, tugging me back. I fight against it.

“She’s not on Alexandrine, Stacia!”

His shout rings across the room, and I pause.

“Clio isn’t there! You’ll be surrendering for no reason!”

I turn. He’s standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at me with such misery that my stomach drops.

“Of course she’s on Alexandrine,” I say. “We saw the footage of the prisoners.”

He shakes his head, his jaw tightening. “She’s not there. You have to believe me on this one, Stace.”